My name is Donna Oakley. I'm a special needs teacher at Rodburn Elementary in Morehead Kentucky. I specialize in teaching students with Autism. I love working with such unique individuals and I’m truly blest to be able to share each day with my students.

I graduate from Rowan County Senior High School in 1990. I attended MSU and received my BA in Education for both Special Education (MMD) and regular education K-4 and completed my Rank 2 in regular education. I’m currently working on my Rank 1 certification at MSU. I began my teaching career at Morehead Elementary in 1995 and then moved within a few years to Rodburn Elementary school. Special education is my passion. I love working with special needs students!

I’m married to Chris Oakley and we have been married for almost 20 years. Chris is a fire fighter and EMT. He works for Lexington Fire Department and part time with Rowan County EMS. We have three wonderful children who all attend school within Rowan County School District. Summar Oakley is 13 years old and is in eight grade at RCMS. She loves to play basketball and soccer. She is currently playing basketball for Rowan County Senior High School on freshman, JV, and V girls. Christopher Oakley is 12 years old and is in seventh grade at RCMS. He loves to play basketball and baseball. Jazlyn is 7 years old and is in second grade at Rodburn Elementary. She loves to play basketball, loves animals, and being my little helper with my students.

I’m a coach for Special Olympics for Rowan County Schools. Also, I’m the book keeper, coordinator, and fundraiser programmer for Special Olympics for Rowan County’s current students and graduate students with Special Needs. Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities eight years and older. I have been the coach/coordinator for Rowan County Special Olympics for over 15 years. Special Olympics is a wonderful program for our students. As a county we participate currently in Track –N-Field events. We participated in area games and State Games in Richmond Kentucky. Each year we take around 15 to 20 athletes to these events.

Also, one of my great passions was to get Project Lifesaver program up and running in Rowan County. Project lifesaver primary mission is to provide timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer’s, autism, and other related conditions or disorders. Project Lifesaver technology is a small personal transmitter (which can be worn around an ankle or wrist) which emits an individualized tracking signal. If a registered client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. After, one of my parents brought this wonderful program to my attention we began working on fundraiser’s to promote the program. After having many Autism Awareness walks at Rodburn Elementary and two city wide Autism Awareness walks we raised the money to get the program started. Local fire departments, police departments, and many citizens donated money to get the program and training beginning in August of 2010. As a member of the Rowan County Project Lifesaver committee, I continue to have Autism Awareness walks, other fundraiser, and continue to bring awareness to this program. The clients are continuing to grow and if you know anyone who would benefit from the program contact Danny Blevins at Rowan County EMS or email me.